Michael tells TMZ ... Dina was violent as Lindsay was growing up, and it left an impression. Michael claims when Lindsay was 4 years old, Dina was arguing with his mom and Dina allegedly smashed a phone across grandma's face, requiring six stitches.
And Michael says, on another occasion -- when Lindsay was a teenager -- Dina went nuts on Michael, flew over two beds to get to him and accidentally knocked herself out.
Michael adds it was Dina's idea to leave Lindsay in Hollywood at a very young age, even though LiLo had a stalker.
As we reported, some members of Lindsay's family tell us ... Lindsay believes her current predicament is the result of Michael's craziness.
UPDATE: A source close to Dina tells us, "This is absolutely not true. She will not respond to anything Michael Lohan says."
